Security forces stormed hijacked ferry killing one
Security forces stormed hijacked ferry killing one
Turkish security forces have stormed a hijacked passenger ferry and killed the lone assailant, ending a 13-hour siege on the boat anchored off the coast of Silivri, officials say.
Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul's governor, announced on Saturday that the hostages were all safe and in good health.
"From 5:45 this morning, - he said - security forces as part of a joint operation successfully completed their mission and the hijacker has been taken dead".
The ferry was anchored just off the coast of the town of Silivri, on Istanbul's outskirts.
The identity of the hijacker, who according to the governor was carrying explosives, was still being determined.
Mutlu though was in no doubt that "the assailant was a terror group member." The governor added he was between 28 and 30 years old and was carrying a device with a button and cables which bomb-disposal experts were analysing. The NTV channel on the contrary stated that the hijacker was not carrying bombs.
Binali Yildirim, the Turkish transport minister, had said last night that the hijacker had not made any concrete demands and had only sought fuel, food and drink. There were reports saying that the intention of the hijacker was to head towards Imrali island where PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is held. On this point the governor only said that “His demands were in accordance with the organization we believe he was a member of.”
Following the operation on the ferry, passengers were taken to the police station to give testimonies. Speaking to CNN Turk after the testimony, one of the passengers said that they themselves had seen neither the bomb nor the hijacker. He also denied the hijacker had seized their mobile phones. Indeed, ha added, we never saw him as he stayed in the captain cabinet.
Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul's governor, announced on Saturday that the hostages were all safe and in good health.
"From 5:45 this morning, - he said - security forces as part of a joint operation successfully completed their mission and the hijacker has been taken dead".
The ferry was anchored just off the coast of the town of Silivri, on Istanbul's outskirts.
The identity of the hijacker, who according to the governor was carrying explosives, was still being determined.
Mutlu though was in no doubt that "the assailant was a terror group member." The governor added he was between 28 and 30 years old and was carrying a device with a button and cables which bomb-disposal experts were analysing. The NTV channel on the contrary stated that the hijacker was not carrying bombs.
Binali Yildirim, the Turkish transport minister, had said last night that the hijacker had not made any concrete demands and had only sought fuel, food and drink. There were reports saying that the intention of the hijacker was to head towards Imrali island where PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is held. On this point the governor only said that “His demands were in accordance with the organization we believe he was a member of.”
Following the operation on the ferry, passengers were taken to the police station to give testimonies. Speaking to CNN Turk after the testimony, one of the passengers said that they themselves had seen neither the bomb nor the hijacker. He also denied the hijacker had seized their mobile phones. Indeed, ha added, we never saw him as he stayed in the captain cabinet.
